At a planning meeting in February, councillors discussed the application to develop 730 Elizabeth Drive, but the developer had already listed the matter for a hearing with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal because the council had not made a decision within 60 days.

"Council did not approve the planning application," a council spokeswoman said. "What was approved was council's position on what it was going to go to VCAT with."

Last week planning consultants for the developer, Urbis, confirmed the matter was still scheduled for April 8 at VCAT. "An appeal has now been lodged by residents," senior urban planner Kathleen Horsington said.

Director of city sustainability David Keenan said: "Council cannot provide a tourism officer to comment on accommodation in Sunbury."

However, a volunteer, who works one day a week at the Sunbury information centre, believed there was a need for more accommodation in Sunbury. "We often have to send people to Bulla because there is no room in Sunbury."

Asked how many child-care vacancies there were last November, Hume chief executive Domenic Isola said: "While the majority of Hume Council-run child-care centres are almost at capacity for long-day care, there are still a few places at some centres on certain days."